TECHNICAL AND ECONOMICAL EVALUATION OF THE INTEGRATION AQUACULTURE SYSTEM AND LETTUCE PLANTS PRODUCTION

ELHABBAQ, MAHMOUD MOUSTAFA; Khater, El-Sayed G; Bahnasawy, Adel H; Afify, Mohamed T

doi:10.21608/jaesj.2024.333972.1207

TECHNICAL AND ECONOMICAL EVALUATION OF THE INTEGRATION AQUACULTURE SYSTEM AND LETTUCE PLANTS PRODUCTION

Document Type : Full research articles

Authors

¹ Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University

² Benha University, Faculty of Agriculture

10.21608/jaesj.2024.333972.1207

Abstract

This study aimed to carry out a techno-economical study on the integrated aquaponic system for tilapia fish and lettuce plants. Fish and plant production was evaluated technically by determining the yield and economically by estimating the total costs, revenue, payback period, benefit/cost ratio, and internal return rates. The results indicated that the yield of fish is 75 tons and lettuce production is 33750 plants. The total fixed costs of the aquaponic system were 2.28 million Egyptian pounds for the system, while the total variable costs of the aquaponic system were 2.18 million Egyptian pounds. The total revenue for the aquaponic system for ten years was 32.41 million pounds. The benefit/cost ratio for the aquaponic system was 1.25 and the payback period for the system was 2.91 years. The internal return rate (IRR) was 84 %. However, it was 47%, and when the outcome cash flow increased by about 10% was 47%. The internal return rate (IRR) for the aquaponic system when the income cash flow decreased by about 10% was 44%. The internal return rate (IRR) for the aquaponic system when the outcome cash flow increased by about 10% and income cash flow decreased by about 10% was 26%.
More so, a deeper understanding of the economic viability of aquaponics and how an aquaponics system's performance can be optimized is gained. A SWOT analysis was done to point out the various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that surround aquaponics. It emerged from the analysis that whereas highly promising in food production, a raft of challenges is identified, including the high initial investment cost and technical expertise required to operate an aquaponics facility.

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